AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.] SEAMEN'S UNION FEUD. MELBOURNE. .March 10. Tom Walsh slated that the whole reason for the lend in the Seamen's Union was that Johaun<eu had a personal grudge again.-i him and other members of the t uton. Walsh added that the proceedings of the Sydney Branch in suspending Raeburn was illegal. Raeburn staled lie did mil propose to take any notice of the Sydney Branch's resolution. TIMBER YARD DESTROYED. PERTH. March 10. A lire destroyed the Port and Company's timb'r yards at .Mayhmds. The damage is £20,060. BIG GROCERY EIRE. SYDNEY. March It). A lire is raging at Mcllraith’x big grocery provision store in the city. The damages is many thousands. NORTH X.S.W. FIRE. SYDNEY, Maroli 8. Eire at Tweed Heads destroyed four shops*, doing damage to the extent of .£60,000. STORM AND HEAT WAVE. A DELAiniv. March 9. A terrific wind storm swept over six hundred miles of torrilory in Control Australia, a beat wave also being oxiv'ricnood. and, owing to the shortage of water Hie outlook is black for cattle stations whirl, are suffering .severe losses of stock. GABI ES delayed. SYDNEY. March 9. ('aide messages have been heavily delayed. This is officially attributed to storms in the Mediterranean. An early resumption is anticipated. bush: fires break out again. MELBOURNE. March 9. The inquest on the victims of the hush fires at- Powelltown. Oilderoy, and Big Pat's Creek, when twenty persons were' hunted to death was held at Wnrburton. Witnesses gave evidence that twenty victims were literally roasted alive, their charred bodies being found alongside the smouldering trees.* Survivors told graph is stories of the ordeal, many having to shelter for hours in creeks heating their clothing out as it caught alight. Tile Coroner in returning; a verdict that the victims were accidentally burned to death, paid a tribute to Hie wonderful courage shown, by the women and men, who met the awful holocaust that dreadful Sunday afternoon. While the * inquest was proceeding the lire hell rang, the incessant heat bavin" caused further fires in the district. The outbreak is growing rapidly a dense pall c.f smoke hanging over the countryside, and should the wind change to the north the whole district will ho again endangered. SYDNEY GROCERY FT HD. SYDNEY, March 10. One of the most spectacular and disastrous fires that Inis occurred in .Sydney for main* years destroyed the store and head offices of M.-Bwraith’s "roomy establishment at the corner of Pitt and Goulburu Sts., City, late last nedit. Tin l damage is estimated in j the vicinity of £100.009. I Fully 30,000 spectators gathered to J view the soectaeh'.

Dozens of women who had become .edged In the crowd fainted with the icat. All the inmates of the Peoples’ Palme, adjoining, were ordered Ironi the milding. Many had to he aroused rum their sleep, and wore assisted ,v the police to take their belongings Tom the building. Shortly alter tons of masonry from the crumbling walls crashed through ;,he People's Palace, wrecking the roof and causing an outbreak ol fire, which, however, was soon suppressed. The hoarders were allowed to return to the Palace at niidiiignt. DISSENSION' AMONG SEAMEN. COASTAL SERVICE RUNNING. SYDNEY. March 10. Although the coastal strike continues the shipping companies aided bv volunteers, are to maintain the services. Nineteen vessels are now running with non-union crews. It is reported that there is dissentinn among the seamen and tlie watersiders. who ceased work and whose places have been taken by non-union labours.

(GAINST NEW ZEALAND POTATOES. HOBART. March 10. Mr Bidl. a member of the House of Represent;! t i ves, speaking at Buriiie, said he had learned that an order for three thousand tons oi New Zealand potatoes for Svdnov may cause a slump in the market and reduce the price most seriously. Mr Bell stated his intention of moving in Parliament for an increase in the duty against Now Zealand potatoes from LI per ton to L 3 in the interests of the producers.